The Taming of the Saiyan
By Romania Black
Hey all! Wow, this chapter took me a LONG time to do..mainly cuz of writer's block and my ENORMOUSLY busy School schedule..the classes are really picking up the pace, so my time to update will slow down some..but no worries..it'll all be good! I have so much more story to do! Anyway, there's a lot of 18's POV in this one...LOL, hope you like it!
Oh,
and thanks so much for all the positive feedback on the last chapter!
YAY! LOL, So happy for everything you guys do for me! So grateful!
LUV YA ALL! Just wanted you to know that...
As usual, rated T for TEEN, due to mild violence, alcohol referance and consumption, mild sexual themes, and brief language...
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Akira Toriyama! But if he wants to use any of my ideas...GO FOR IT!
Reviews:
CheyaAngel: Hey thanks for the review! Glad you liked it! LOL Thanks! I'll update as soon as I can! I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
Sinful Sakura: HA HA HA! Krillin IS a crazy Midget! Just wait til you see 18's reaction in this chapter! BWAhAHAHAAHA! -rereads review- Awwww! You got teary eyed? That's so kawaii! Aw, I was moved when I wrote it too...I wish I could get proposed to like that! LOL seriously, it'd be so romantic! And yeah...naming your kid after an ex...what was he thinking? LOL, well I hope you enjoy the chapter! Thanks so much for the review! Glad you liked the last chapter!
Kumori Ookami: Ha ha ha! I figured you did know it from your one review! But I wanted to keep it hush hush, just in case! LOL! You're right, it is about damn time too! I know, I loved that line too! Just wait til Roshi gets over there! ha ha ha, yeah, we love Roshi don't we? Admit it! Well, I'll let you get to the next chapter! Thanks for the review and enjoy the fic!
Witch of Erie Knoll: awww, no lengthy funny review? LOL, just kidding! I know you're probably busy with your own fic, and it's awesome, so I'm NOT complaining about anything! Ha ha! Thanks for the compliment! -blushes- I hope this chapter is cool too for you! Thanks for the review!
You guys are so awesome! The reviews and comments have not only been helpful, but they've inspired me in so many ways with this story and have really helped me when I was crunched for an idea or suggestion...THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I LOVE ALL OF YOU! Seriously, there is no way I can repay you all for all the help you've done for me! Thanks again, and feel free to leave me a comment or review of how you're liking the story or any suggestion for it you have. I'm grateful and appreciative of every one I recieve! Thanks a million! Peace out, and Rock ROCK ON!
Enjoy the Story!
Romania Black
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Day Seven, Word Gets Out Again
Krillin looked outside; the salty breeze was coming off the ocean towards their house, the sun was out and shining, and the grass had never looked greener. The small warrior sighed with relaxation, it was perfect out. He gazed over towards their new pool...he hadn't swam in it in a while...and it is nice outside...
"18!" The diminuitive warrior called out to his wife, running up the stairs to find her in their bedroom, reading a magazine. "Come on!" He waved towards her.
"What is it?" The Android said dully from behind the magazine, which happened to be about interior decorating. Not her favorite read.
"Let's go swimming!" The earthling chimed in, grabbing the end of their bedsheet she was sitting on and tugging fiercely at it.
"Why on earth would we do that?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It's perfect outside! And we haven't been in the new pool in a while!" Krillin begged.
"We were just in it a few days ago," 18 said in an exasperated voice.
"Please?" Krillin's eyes were big and innocent, "Come on...it's really nice out..."
"Krillin..." 18 sighed, shaking her head.
"Oh," He said curtly, "So you want to stay in the house all day and read those magazines?" He knew she hated them just as much as he did.
The Android gave him a sour look, then, realizing her defeat, smiled and stood up. "Fine...I'll meet you out there." She sighed.
Krillin ran towards the bathroom, "Just a second, and I'll be ready!" He smiled, shutting the bathroom door behind him.
18 had to smirk; her husband was something else...
"So," Goten said sitting up in the sand, "Who should we tell first?"
Marron brushed the sand from his black hair, "I don't know," She smiled, "Your parents or mine?"
"Eh...if Chi Chi finds out first, you're parents will know before we even get to them," Goten smiled sheepishly.
The blonde nodded, "That's true. So we tell my folks first?" She asked, giving him a playful poke.
"I suppose that'd be the most logical thing," Goten smiled, taking her hand in his. "Want to go right now?"
Marron leaned in towards him, "In a few more minutes," She said pressing her lips to his.
Meanwhile, Krillin had already cannonballed into the pool, the cold water surging up him, his skin tightening in recoil to the shock of the water. He shivered and looked at his wife, who was staring at him as if he was insane.
"C--come on i--i--in," Krillin stuttered, shaking, "The w--water's fine!"
18 crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Looks like it," She said with a hint of sarcasm, staring at the water below her. She was wearing her new swimsuit that Krillin had bought her, a one piece strapless white swimsuit with a large V in the middle of it. She felt slightly exposed in her suit and crossed her arms to make her seem less exposed.
"What's wrong?" Krillin called out to her, his body adjusting to the coldness of the water.
"Nothing...this suit," She motioned to her swimsuit, "Is a little showy, you think?"
"What? Noooo," Krillin said with a sly grin, "Who on earth is going to see you in it other than myself?" He winked.
18 didn't look impressed or reassured, "I think I'm just going to sun a while first...warm up," She said, laying out on the deck of the pool. In truth, it seemed like a good reason to take a nap and to take her mind off the revealing swimsuit.
The earthling frowned, "Okay, I guess. I'll just swim around then..." He looked glum but was glad that she was out here anyway with him. As she laid down to sun, he started doing laps around the pool, feeling instantly refreshed in the cool water as the salty breeze swept through his graying hair.
Why does she have to sun all the time? Krillin frowned at his wife, wishing she'd just swim around with him and not lie on the deck tanning.
Roshi appeared a few feet off of the household of Krillin and 18, his eyes glistening when he spotted the pool. So she wasn't lying, the old hermit thought with a crooked grin, I thought she'd be joking... He scuttled closer to the pool, hiding behind a tree so he wasn't immediately spotted by her. Roshi knew that he wasn't on 18's favorite list of people.
How can I get close without her running off? The old man wondered as he stalked closer slowly, Maybe if I just ask Krillin if I can swim...
Krillin happened to look closer and see Roshi coming up the driveway slowly. "Roshi? Is that you?" He called out, in surprise that he was actually alive, but the old man rushed a hand to the earthling's mouth.
"Shhhhh!" Roshi frowned, and Krillin quieted himself.
"I thought you were dead! What gives?" Krillin whispered in amazement.
"Does everyone think that?" The old man said with a growl. Krillin nodded his head quietly. The old man shook with fury, "I tell one person I'm going to be gone and then it turns into this...," He turned to Krillin, "Was the funeral good anyway?"
"Uh..." Krillin's eyes widened and he looked away in embarrassment, his face turning red.
Roshi slapped a hand to his forehead in dumbfounded surprise, "There wasn't even a funeral...was there?"
"Uh, Roshi, why are you here?" The diminuitive warrior asked solemnly, quickly changing the subject. "Is something wrong?"
The old man shifted his gaze to the figure lying on the deck; he couldn't see her face due to the enormous obstacles blocking the view. His face suddenly turned from furious to hungry.
"Is your wife asleep?" He asked softly.
"Uh..." Krillin didn't know. He looked up and saw that her eyes were closed, her chest rising slowly up and down, "I think so," He murmured.
"Good," The martial arts master's eyes gleamed, "Uh...can I take a swim?" He suddenly smiled innocently.
"What on earth--what are you doing here, Roshi?" Krillin's voice had lost a lot of its hospitability.
"I just want to swim!" the old hermit cried out quietly, his face feigning innocence.
"Is that so?" The earth warrior suddenly caught on to why Roshi had asked his wife's condition, "Or did you just come to see 18?"
A tiny trickle of blood was visible under Roshi's nostrils. He grasped a hold of Krillin's neck in panic, "Okay, okay!" He whispered harshly, "I did come to see your wife."
"God, Roshi," Krillin's voice had lost all respectfulness.
"You don't understand!" Roshi pleaded, "I'm an old man...all alone...no one to take care of him..."
"Didn't Lunch work for you?"
"I sent her away when I went on vacation!" The old hermit said pleading, "I was on vacation alone too! Give this old man a break!"
"That's sick, Master Roshi, she's my wife!" Krillin said defensively.
"Can I just go up and look at her and then swim around and go home?" The old man said with a desperate voice, "Come on..."
"This is so stupid...fine," Krillin realized the old man wouldn't leave until he let him have his way. "But you're only going to look at her, got it? Nothing else," He eyed the hermit suspiciously. "Then go home, okay?"
The hermit frowned, "No swimming?"
The look on Krillin's face was enough to tell Roshi he'd better quit while he was ahead and just hurry to the deck to glance at the gorgeous Android sunning there. Kids these days...can't even take a swim! How unhospitable!
Why couldn't he have just died? Krillin asked himself, hoping Roshi would do this quick. Of course, when did anything Roshi do involve quickness?
The earthling groaned as he waded around in the pool. He shouldn't have let Roshi go up towards the deck. He almost instinctively went to grab Roshi and tug him away from the deck, but he stopped halfway towards the hermit, realizing how much sound that'd make and the possibility of how angry his wife would be if he woke her up.
Meanwhile, Goten and Marron were flying together over the clouds, nearing Krillin's house with every second. As the wind swept through their hair, Goten turned towards the blonde, smiling with excitement, "I can't wait to tell everyone!" He called out to her.
Marron nodded, her blonde hair like a flowing mane of gold, "Me too!" She smiled, "And wait until mom finds out I can fly!"
"She'll be so surprised," And with that sentence, a youthful childish gleam lit up Goten's features, making him seem as spirited and playful as he did as a child playing pranks with Trunks.
"Of course she will! And I can't wait to show dad the energy ball you showed me to make! He'll be so impressed!" She laughed, as they neared the house.
Goten frowned, his memory buzzing, "Wait...aren't we fogetting something?"
"What are you talking about, Goten?" She gave him a confused raise of her eyebrow.
"You know...that feeling you get when you know you should be remembering something, but you can't? That's the feeling...Like we forgot something important..." He scratched his head as they flew onward.
"You're being silly," Marron reassured him, "What on earth could we forget?"
"I don't know...we didn't leave anything at Ro---at Ro----at----," Goten's eyes widened and he gave Marron a panicked look, "Marron! We forgot about ROSHI!"
"No, we didn't," Marron smiled, ignoring his mortified expression, "He's not at the house alone, don't worry."
"I know he's not at the house, Marron," The Demi-Saiyan's face paled, "He's at your parents' house, remember?"
"What?" Her eyes suddenly bulged out of their sockets, "OH MY GOSH, GOTEN! YOU'RE RIGHT!" Her face turned the starkest white. "I wonder if he's still there!" She said with a fearful voice. She didn't plan on arriving in the middle of Roshi, her mother, and father to tell them the news about her and Goten.
"I just wonder if your parents really decided to go swimming today," Goten frowned. The two looked at each other and considered all the worst possible outcomes of that event.
Of course, none of their predictions came close to what really ended up happening.
Roshi slowly eased himself onto the deck. It'd taken every part of him to do it without making a sound. His bones felt a lot more brittle than they used to, a clear sign of old age. Roshi twisted his back slightly and crept towards the sleepy body of 18.
He felt drool on the corner's of his mouth; she was so beautiful, laying in the sun, her sinuous body stretched out. Sure enough, she wore her new white strapless V-neck swimsuit Marron had said she'd wear. The martial arts master fought back the fighting urge of the nosebleed welling in his nostrils and gazed at her lovliness, idolizing her perfect figure.
Krillin huffed and crossed his arms, waiting for Roshi's peep show to end. Why he'd let the old man do this, he didn't quite know, but there was a bad feeling in his stomach. And Krillin knew to pay attention to bad vibes, as he got them a lot, especially in battle and knew when a bad event was about to occur.
"Okay, Roshi, you can leave now," Krillin said softly, but loud enough for the old man to hear him.
"Just another look, okay?" The hermit snapped. Geez! How'd he end up with her anyway? Must have got her exetremely drunk one night...The old man leaned over to get a glance at her most prominant features, which he tried to stare at from the front of her, ignoring Krillin's obvious whining about him leaving.
Just then, as he had balanced himself in the perfect position to stare straight down her bathing suit at the perfect round pair of assets she possessed, his cane gently nudged 18's shoulder.
Her pair of crystal eyes snapped open in an instant, and 18 found herself staring up at a slightly drooling Master Roshi, looking straight down into her strapless swimsuit. Their eyes connected for a moment, and the Android felt herself fill with rage.
"WHAT IS THIS!"
Krillin jumped out of the water so high, he nearly fell out of the pool. 18 grabbed a hold of Roshi's shirt collar and the old man's hands fell right into the one position they always seemed to fall. Right onto 18's breasts.
"Uh...hello 18!" Roshi said merrily, his hands squeezing gently on her breasts, trying to look innocent, but there was blood trickling out his nose and his face was beat red. "Lovely...uh...day we're having huh?"
The Android noticed this action immediately and smashed her fist into Roshi's face, sending him flying into a tree outside the pool. She sneered and threw back her hair, her face looking horrified and full of hatred,
"Roshi! I thought you were dead!" She growled, her cheeks red.
The old man lifted his head from the ground, leaves stuck through his beard, "Doesn't everyone?" He replied weakly.
18 spun around to her husband, who was trying to scurry out of the pool, "Krillin! Did you know he was here?" She asked with a growl.
Her husband put on an innocent smile, "Uh...well...that depends I guess...he was just coming here to swim...no harm in that, 18..."
"You let him come up here and grope me!" She screamed. Krillin recoiled as if he'd been whipped,
"No! I didn't!" He said with a shudder, "And technically, he didn't grope you--"
"WHAT?" 18 roared and flew into the air; grabbing Krillin by the swimtrunks and lifting him out of the pool. Roshi slowly got to his feet and tried to back towards the woods, to make his escape, but the Android's pointing finger stopped him in his tracks.
"YOU STOP!" She screamed, and the martial arts master froze in his footsteps. "Both of you listen and listen NOW! I am going to have a nice chat with you explaining WHY we don't grab women's unmentionable regions," her eyes darted to Roshi, who smiled with false innocence and shrugged, his cheeks a seering pink, "And WHY we don't invite creepy perverted men over to swim with her either!" She glared at her husband, who wished she'd really let go of his swimtrunks.
Just as 18 was about to chew the two men out for both of their childish and pathetic behavior, a familiar voice rang through the air and the Android looked up to see two faces she hadn't expected.
"HEY DOWN THERE!" The voice was clearly Goten's, as the first figure waved, the two specks slowly growing clearer through the branches of the trees. 18, Krillin, and Roshi watched as the figures slowly grew closer. The three waved to the two approaching.
"MOM! DAD! HEY!"
18 felt her heart drop several inches, as the second figure called out and waved. Could it be? 18 slowly wondered, letting go of her husband unconsciously. Krillin dropped to the ground, rose from his feet and gave his daughter the proudest look Marron had ever seen him give her. 18 still looked too stunned for words. Even Roshi looked surprised, his mouth hanging open slightly.
Goten landed smoothly on the ground below and walked towards the three, but Marron was still circling overhead, smiling and giggling as the group below her watched her fly.
Krillin's smile was almost as wide as his whole face, "Marron, sweetie! Look at you! Wow...incredible!"
"Thanks daddy!" Marron smiled, slowly descending towards the ground.
"Impressive," Roshi said softly, and 18 glared at him and turned to Marron.
"How...how is this possible?" She said, her voice slightly confused, her brow furrowed.
Krillin gave his wife a saddened look; he expected this. Marron smiled softly, and looked towards Goten, who replied for her.
"I taught her," He said stepping forward. 18 and Goten stood face to face. The three others tensed, not knowing what would happen now.
18 looked at him and their eyes connected. All these years, she'd tried to keep her daughter normal, and not teach her the ways she and her husband knew. And now, unbeknownst to her, this boy had taught her what 18 had secretly wanted to show her since day one. She wanted to wring the boy's neck for teaching her before 18 could, but she also wanted to hug the boy so tightly for having the patience and courage to show her how to fly.
The Android smiled and grapsed a hand on Goten's shoulder, "Well, its about damn time someone did."
Marron erupted in laughter and hugged her mother, grateful that she was okay with her flying. Krillin sighed with relief and took Goten's hand in a friendly shake, "So, she learned alright?" He sniggered, wondering if he'd ever told Marron about their chat the other day.
"She's a natural," Goten said with a note of pride in his voice, winking at Marron, who was still hugging her mother.
"Is she now?" 18 smiled wickedly, "Is this true?"
"Of course," Marron smiled, "How could I not be a natural with parents like you two?"
Krillin and 18 both smiled and embraced their daughter, who held them close. "Seems like forever doesn't it?" She smiled, winking over their shoulders to Goten, who merely placed his hands in his pockets and smiled back.
"We're so proud of you, Marron," 18 whispered. Krillin nodded his head in agreement.
"Thanks," Their daughter whispered, and the area was quiet for a moment.
Roshi realized this touching moment should probably exclude him and that he'd better get going while 18 wasn't chewing him out, so he turned to go back towards the woods, but Goten spotted him leaving.
"Where you off to, Roshi?"
18 lifted her head up suddenly, remembering what they had been doing. "Roshi! Stop! I'm not finished with you or Krillin!" She said, her smile fading dramatically.
Marron didn't know what was going on, but she didn't like it. "No! Uh...Roshi, stop!" The martial arts master froze. "Mom, I told Roshi to come over here..." She started.
The Android's eyes grew enormous, "You did! WHY?" She asked, her eyebrows disappearing into her hair. Krillin cocked his head in confusion.
"Well...Goten and I needed...uhm..." She looked to the Demi-Saiyan, who gave her a fleeting smile.
"Guess we should go ahead and tell them?" He asked, shrugging. Marron nodded, realizing it'd be better to go ahead and share the news.
"Tell us what?" The Android asked firmly. Krillin's eyes grew wider as he started to understand what was going on. Roshi stared blankly at the group, not knowing what to do.
"Daddy...mom..." Marron started, her face turning pink. "There's something that we would like to share with you," She reached over and grasped Goten's hand, her face breaking into a lovestruck smile.
Krillin ran a hand to his mouth, wanting the next words that came out of her mouth to be what he prayed they be. 18's eyes widened slightly, and Roshi's mouth dropped open as he realized what Krillin already had.
"Krillin, sir, and 18...ma'am," Goten started, his face turning slightly pink as he addressed the Android, who bore a blank expression, "Today, I'm asking you two for permission to marry your daughter."
"YESSS!" Krillin screamed, jumping up and down with excitement.
Marron and Goten looked at each other and grinned. 18 ran a hand to her husband's shoulder to calm him down.
"Hold on, dear," She said firmly, as the earthling stopped bouncing up and down. "So...you've asked my daughter to marry you?" She asked Goten, who nodded his head.
"Yes I have," He replied.
"I see," She added, and looked to her daughter. "And you said yes?"
"Yes I did," Marron smiled, unsure by what her mother was implying.
The android sighed and closed her eyes, seemingly pondering something. Krillin was shaking with eagerness; it was obvious he'd waited for this moment for quite some time. Roshi stared at the couple, not seeing them together as a couple until this moment. And then their pairing appeared completely obvious to him, and he wondered why they'd never hooked up before.
"I see," She lifted her head and her face bore a serious stare, "I wish you two would have waited longer for this..." She said slowly.
"That's what I thought at first too," Marron said and smiled towards Goten, "But he loves me mom, and he's not going to wait."
"Oh he isn't?" 18 said with a slightly amused glance towards the Demi-Saiyan. "Is that what you told her?"
"Uh," He faltered for a moment as her intense crystal eyes stared at him, "I mean, yes, I did. I love your daughter and want to be engaged with her. I know it's sudden, but I've never been more sure," He glanced at Marron, "of anything else than this in my life."
Krillin looked like he was going to cry, and Roshi shook his head. Can't argue with logic like that, The old man thought. 18 stared at the Demi-Saiyan for a moment then cleared her throat.
"Well, I think you two should have waited longer before deciding this, but," And a smile broke onto her face, "If that's your will, then what can I do to stop you two?"
"Oh mom!" Marron embraced her mom again, "Thank you!"
"Why are you thanking me?" She asked, moving towards Goten, "This young man has asked you to marry him and you two love each other. It's him and you I should be thanking." She shook Goten's hand and the young warrior felt chills rush through him, "I could ask for no one better to marry our daughter," 18 smiled.
"Don't worry," Goten smiled a Goku-like smile, "I'll take good care of her."
"I can't believe this," Krillin was wiping tears from his eyes, "Me and Goku...father-in-laws!" He said with a small sob.
"Dad...isn't Goku--"
"Leave him," 18 advised Marron, shaking her head, "Leave him be. As for you--" She turned towards Roshi, who jumped at her voice, "--being the circumstances are as they are now," She motioned towards her daughter and Goten, "I guess you're getting off the hook, aren't you?"
"OH!" Roshi smiled widely, "Oh, don't worry, I won't be uh...doing that...uh...ever again!" His face turned red as he scratched the back of his head. The glare on 18's face assured him that he'd keep his word; he never wanted to see that look she gave him ever again.
"Good," 18 said with a small smile, turning to her daughter and now-fiance. "So...you two are engaged...amazing."
"Officially, anyway," Goten said, taking Marron's hand. She smiled back at him, as did the Android.
"Of course. Speaking of which," She turned to Marron, "Have you told Chi Chi yet?"
"No, not yet," Marron replied, "We were heading there next."
"I see," 18 smiled. Krillin was still wiping tears of joy from his face, mumbling things that the three assumed were, "If Goku coulda been here to see this...," and "So proud...this is great..."
Goten chuckled, "Can't imagine how mom'll take the news," he said with a large amount of sarcasticness.
Marron rolled her eyes, "I'm sure she'll be upset," She added with the same amount of sarcasm.
The five laughed and 18 had to wipe her eyes as well, which was something she almost never did. Since when do I tear up? The Android wondered to herself. She gave the couple a sincere look. "So, can we come with you two...to Chi Chi's?"
"Of course," Marron smiled, and turned to the martial arts master, "You can come too, Master Roshi."
"If you promise to remain at least ten feet from me and my daughter," 18 added with a serious stare.
"Uh..of course!" Roshi tried to smile, but he simply couldn't manage it.
The five took off into the air, Roshi on the Nimbus cloud, which seemed to barely be able to hold him up, and the others flying in the air, destined for Chi Chi's house.
Pan saw them from a distance, her ebony hair whipping in the wind. She knew it was Goten; with a Ki like that, who else would it be? Goten's Ki was unique; to Pan at least. She could tell it from Trunks', whose was slightly stronger. Pan raced back towards the front porch, where Gohan, Videl, and Chi Chi were sitting in one of the swings.
"Mom! Dad! Grandma! Look!" She pointed into the sky. The three on the swing could make out a small group of people in the air. "It's Goten!" Pan cried out happily.
"Why are they coming here?" Videl asked, her voice masked with concern.
Chi Chi looked worried, "Is the week over already?" She whimpered.
"I guess so," Gohan adjusted his glasses as Pan jumped up and down, waving her arms in the air frantically.
"GOTEN! OVER HERE!" She screamed merrily, her dark eyes wide and happy.
The Demi-Saiyan glided towards the ground, Marron falling shortly behind him, along with Krillin, 18, and Roshi on top of the flying Nimbus.
Videl's eyes went wide, "I don't believe it," She gasped.
"Is that...is that Marron flying?" Gohan blinked, as the group landed in front of their porch.
"WOW! MARRON!" Pan rushed over and gave the blonde a quick hug. "You can fly!"
Marron giggled, "It would appear that way."
"That's amazing! Did Goten teach you?" Pan quickly glanced from Marron to Goten. The blonde nodded, and Pan erupted, "YOU'RE KIDDING! GOTEN," She shot her uncle an angry stare, "How come you never taught me how to fly when I was little?"
"I didn't need to when dad was here," Goten patted Pan on the head, "Besides, Trunks and I didn't have the patience to teach you anything." He winked at her, but Pan sighed, crossing her arms in disappointment.
"Yeah, yeah," She mumbled, "Great excuse, you lazy bum--"
"This is a surprise," Videl cut in, stepping in front of her daughter. "It's been a long week since I've seen you and Marron, Krillin, 18, and---and---" Videl's gaze sharpened as she stared at Roshi, who was slowly getting off the Nimbus. "---Is that---?"
"ROSHI!" Gohan ran forward and gave Master Roshi a strong embrace, to which the old hermit gasped and tried to squeeze out of.
"Stop! Seriously...I'm okay! You can cut it out, Gohan!" The martial artist wheezed.
"We thought you were dead, Master Roshi," Chi Chi said in an astonished voice.
"That's what we thought as well," 18 chimed in, her voice much calmer and soothing than before they left, but still eyeing Roshi with a hint of disgust. Roshi's face turned red and he looked away from her.
"Well next time I decide to go on vacation, I'll just leave a memo telling everyone where I went," Roshi snapped, shaking Gohan off of him.
The group laughed for a moment, then Chi Chi came forward and embraced her son. "Oh, Goten," She cooed, wrapping her arms around her youngest son. Goten felt his face burning,
"Mooooom," He groaned and forced a smile as he returned the embrace.
"Don't whine," Chi Chi said sharply, "I'm your mother, and I have a right to miss you, Goten."
"I know," He glanced towards Marron, who was all smiles, "I missed you too, mother."
"He has something to share with you four," Krillin beamed, as 18 came beside him.
"What is it?" Pan asked, smiling and looking on the verge of jumping up and down again.
"Yes, uhm," Goten pulled away from Chi Chi and reached out his hands to grip her shoulders, "Mother, I have news for you." He felt Marron's hand squeezing his arm tightly, her face seeming to be bursting with eagerness. "Mom, I've asked Marron to marry me."
There was a long silence that followed, the only sounds being Roshi grunting as he struggled to contain Nimbus near him, as the little cloud wanted to fly away but Roshi wouldn't allow it. Pan's eyes were as large as dinner plates, her mouth gaped open. Videl and Gohan both wore equal expressions of surprise, but Chi Chi was the only one that bore a not-surprised serious stare.
Chi Chi looked to Marron, giving a small sigh, "Are you pregnant?"
"WHAT?" Marron shrieked and nearly fell over. Goten's face turned bright red, as did Krillin and 18's, as they stared at their daughter. "NO! For Heaven's sakes NO!" She repeated, looking flustered. Goten tried not to stare towards Gohan, but he knew his brother was smiling at that second.
"Oh," Chi Chi's face split into a wide beam, then she ran at her son, "GOTEN! YOU GOT A GIRL TO MARRY YOU! And she's NOT PREGNANT!" She screamed.
Goten was sure his face was the darkest crimson imaginable, because he felt as though he was literally on fire, but the smile that was on Marron's face as they stared at each other let him know that his mother's words meant nothing to her, and certainly weren't enough to get embarrassed over.
The Demi-Saiyan felt the burning in his face leave him as he stared at the beautiful girl he was going to marry. Marron smiled, realizing he was staring at her and forced herself to look at her parents, who both wore equally proud grins.
"Of course," 18 sighed and smiled at her daughter, "You still have to stay at home with us until the marriage."
"Well, I figured that," Marron said with a shaky laugh.
"And you're still grounded," 18 said with a darker grin.
"What?" The blonde gaped.
"Don't tell me you forgot my punishment for you for lying and not coming home that night?" The Android raised an eyebrow.
She remembered that? "Mom, that was so long ago--"
"A week ago, to be exact," The Android winked, and followed her husband over to where Gohan and Videl were standing. "Not too long ago," She smiled. Marron stared at her parents as they walked by, and realized it truly had only been a week. She gasped as the realization sunk in.
"I can't believe it," Marron whispered to herself, but Chi Chi broke her train of thought with an enormous embrace.
"OH SWEETIE! I can't picture Goten with anyone else! I'm so happy for you two!" She squealed, her grip on Marron tight and slightly painful to the blonde.
"Thanks," Marron gasped.
"Now, when are you two planning to get married?" Chi Chi said with a more serious voice, letting go of Marron.
"Uh," The thought hadn't occured to her yet. "Well, I'm not sure, really," She turned to Goten, "When are we going to get married?"
The Demi-Saiyan bore a mildly childish look, "I don't know...next week sound good?"
"NEXT WEEK?" Chi Chi roared and slapped her son hard on the head, "Don't be foolish!"
"Ow!" Goten rubbed his head, giving his mother a confused look, "What's wrong with it?"
"You're as naive as your father, Goten," Chi Chi sighed, "It takes more than a week to get a wedding set up!"
"How long does it take?" Goten had never actually planned a wedding; he'd only been the ring-bearer in his brother's wedding, and couldn't remember how long that took. "I mean, what's the least time you think it would take?" He saw Marron blushing as he said this.
"It's been so long...," Chi Chi's voice trailed off. "Goku and I were bethrothed for years..."
"YEARS?" Goten looked worried, his eyes bulging slightly.
"But you two got married within the same day you reunited with each other at the World's Martial Arts Tournament," Videl cut in with a sly grin.
"Oh, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Chi Chi turned on her daughter-in-law.
"I think Videl and I waited three months before we were married," Gohan said with a small smile.
"It was closer to four," Videl added, trying not to laugh at Chi Chi, who looked furious.
"How long was it before we were married?" Krillin looked up at his wife, who was frowning slightly.
She eyed her husband with a look that said she didn't want to answer the question. "Well, you didn't propose to me until a few months after Cell was destroyed," She paused and closed her eyes, "But after you did it seemed like a month before we were married."
"A month!" Goten smiled broadly and turned towards Marron, "Will that be enough time?"
The blonde giggled and shrugged, "How should I know? I've never been married before!"
"Think we can pull it off, 18?" Goten smiled towards the Android.
She gave Goten a harsh stare, in truth she didn't think it was good for her daughter to be married so soon, but seeing the look on the Demi-Saiyan's face told her he was not going to be one to wait very long no matter what she said.
18 realized everyone's eyes were on her, causing her to blush slightly, "I think we could do it."
Goten smiled the most Goku-like smile Marron had ever seen him smile and lifted her off the ground, spinning her around. "Hear that? One month, Marron!" He cried out joyfully. Marron giggled,
"That should be enough time to plan it," She gave her mother a look with a hint of skepticism, but seeing Goten's reaction, 18 could do nothing but smile,
"Should be," She remarked, her head leaning into the palm of her hand, watching Goten twirl Marron around in place.
Krillin and Pan were jumping up and down estatically, both eager for the wedding and excited at the prospect of Goten and Marron's union. Roshi sighed and leaned onto Nimbus, glad to be reminded of young love once again. It'd been a while, he thought. Gohan laid a hand around Videl's waist and pulled his wife towards him, happy for his younger brother, who'd finally found someone that he truly cared for. Chi Chi merely sighed and ran a hand through her hair, ignoring the white strands poking out of her bangs. Her son was finally getting married, and soon, she knew it would be soon, she'd have a grandchild on the way. One month was plenty of time to wait, and it'd go by fast; there was so much to be done in so little time...
The Briefs house was unusually quiet; Bulma stared out the window from the kitchen sink, her hands covered in soapy suds from the dishes she was washing. Vegeta had the paper in one hand, trying to find something interesting to read or look at, a glass of saki firmly shoved in his hand. Trunks was finishing up his meal, wiping his mouth with a white napkin, and Bra was tapping her feet on the ground, a thoroughly sullen look cast on her face.
"Daddy, I want to go see Uub," Bra whined, her blue hair laying on her shoulders.
"And Bra, I told you no," Vegeta snapped, "Not now; finish your meal." He motioned towards her plate.
The Demi-Saiyan shook her head, "I'm not hungry."
"Then starve," Vegeta put the paper down and reached for her plate, shoving it in front of Trunks. "Finish eating it for her, son." He said with a dark look and went back to reading his paper.
Bra gave her father a whiny, stubborn look, but kept her mouth shut. She didn't feel like ticking her father off today.
Trunks took a bite of Bra's eggs and looked up towards the phone. I wonder if they'll call or come over...
"What are you staring at?" Bulma cut in, interupting Trunks' thoughts.
"Huh?" He answered groggily.
"She wants to know what you're staring at," Vegeta repeated with an angry voice.
"Oh, nothing...just spacing out," Trunks' cheeks turned pink.
"You've been doing that a lot lately," Bra remarked, twisting her blue hair with her finger. Vegeta grimaced as he watched her put the twisted strand in her mouth.
"Honestly, can you do something other than eat your hair?" He said with a disgusted voice, and Bra's flushed,
"Daddy! I'm not eating my hair!" She slammed her hands onto the table.
"You might as well be!" Vegeta slurped the rest of his saki.
"Who are you to talk about manners?" Bulma snapped, giving her husband a glare, "I have to drag you in to get a shower once a week at least, and you're telling your daughter to stop putting her hair in her mouth?"
"Yes," Vegeta said bluntly.
"Well stop it!" Bulma exclaimed and turned around swiftly and began scrubbing the dishes without end.
Vegeta snorted and went back to reading his paper; Trunks sighed and took another bite of food.
"Thanks, mom," Bra said with an innocent voice, a lock of hair in her mouth.
"Quit eating your hair," Bulma snapped, not turning around to see her daughter.
Bra blushed and tossed the lock down with an angry stare. Vegeta smirked towards his wife. Only my wife...
RINGGGGGGG!
Bulma quickly picked up the phone that had broken the silence. "Hello?" She said with a pleasant voice. "Oh! Hi, Videl."
"Hmmph," Vegeta snorted, "Always talking to her..."
"As opposed to?" Trunks said mildly. Vegeta shot him a deadly sneer, and the Demi-Saiyan silenced himself.
"Oh! Uh, what did you say?" Bulma held the phone closer, as if it'd help her hear better. "You...are you SERIOUS?" She said in a loud voice. Trunks, Vegeta, and Bra all stared at her with mild curiousity.
There was a long pause, and Bulma's eyes widened, "Are you sure that'll be enough time?" She asked with slight concern.
"What are they talking about?" Bra asked, her eyes narrowed.
"Beats me," Trunks replied, finishing off Bra's plate.
"Probably some flea market or something...whatever they do," Vegeta turned the page of his paper, the curiosity draining from his face.
"Well, I guess that would work out," Bulma pulled the plug on the sink and started to dry her hands, the phone tucked between her ear and shoulder, "Wow, that's amazing...I wouldn't have guessed so soon." She shot her family a glance and then smiled, "Of course you all could come over."
"WHAT?" Vegeta roared, the paper falling out of his hands, "NO! They are NOT coming over!"
"Hush up," Bulma glared, placing her hand over the phone for a moment, then returning it to her ear, "What? Oh, that was Vegeta...yeah, I know..."
"You'd better not be having them over!" The Saiyan Prince said angrily.
"I'll have them over if I want to, Vegeta," Bulma said with a snap. "Huh? Oh, that's okay! You can come over!"
"They'll eat us out of house and home...," Vegeta grumbled, "Kakorot's clan...here...the very idea!"
"They've come over before, dad," Trunks said with a small smile.
Vegeta growled, "Did I ask for your input?"
Trunks silenced himself again. Bra sighed and rested her elbows on the table, her head in her hands.
"Oh...well if you're busy...okay...," Bulma shot her husband a malicious stare, but he wasn't looking at her, "Oh! You do? Well! That's an honor! I'll make sure to tell him! Sure! Okay, Videl! Tell them I'm so happy for them! Bye!" She hung up the phone and marched towards her husband.
"Is the freak show coming here?" Vegeta said with a smirk, knowing he was about to get nagged at.
"NO, THEY'RE NOT!" Bulma yelled, her face tight with anger, "Not after that childish yelling you did!"
"Good...we don't need them over here, anyway," Vegeta frowned, "What'd that woman want anyway?"
"Well," Bulma placed a hand on her chest and sighed, smiling deeply. "I believe that a joyous occasion is going to occur."
Trunks immediately looked to Bra, who bore a curious and confused glance. He knew what the surprise was already; Goten had told him he was going to propose. Bra's not going to want to hear this...
"What? Don't tell me that wife of Kakarot's brat is having another child?" Vegeta almost laughed at the idea.
"Videl's pregnant?" Bra asked, her face full of confusion.
"No, no!" Bulma wanted to slap her husband so hard for being so obnoxious, "That's not it...Bra," She looked to her daughter with a sensitive look, "You aren't going to like to hear this..."
Oh, boy, Trunks thought and backed his chair up a bit. His father gave him a curious glance.
"Why? Why am I not going to like this?" Bra's curious confused look became instantly a look of fierceness.
"Just spit it out, woman," Vegeta said with a disgusted glance to his wife. He hated stalling like this.
"Oh, well...," Bulma cleared her throat. "Goten has asked Marron to marry him."
There was an awkward silence that followed. Trunks sighed, Bra was breathless, and Vegeta shot his wife another disgusted look.
"What? Kakorot's brat...that child of Krillin's?" He said in almost a shocked voice.
"Yes, dear," Bulma said gently.
"I thought they already were engaged...by that fruit or whatever," The Saiyan frowned.
"Well, this is an actual engagement...they're getting married in a month." Bulma shot her daughter a look of concern.
Bra merely looked like she was in a trance, her eyes misty. Trunks smiled grimly,
"Goten told me he was going to ask her...He asked if I'd be the best man," He said with a smile.
"That's what Videl told me," Bulma gave her son a proud look, "That's such an honor...being your best friend's best man...how sweet..."
"Kakorot's best man? What's a best man?" Vegeta shot his wife a confused stare. He didn't like this term 'best man.'
"That just means he'll be the main man beside Goten when he's married...we didn't HAVE a best man, remember?" She frowned, her hands on her hips. "Actually, we didn't have much of a wedding, come to think of it."
"Fancy ceremonies are overrated," Vegeta frowned, draining his saki.
Bulma sighed, "I guess you're right. Bra," She looked towards her daughter, who'd snapped out of her trance, "I know this is hard for you..."
"Hard?" Suddenly, Bra's eyes were full of fire, "Why is it hard for me? This is nothing," She stood up, her back straightened proudly. "Why should I be jealous or anything?" She said with a strong voice, "I have Uub now...I dont' need Goten for anything! So why should I be upset he's with someone else?" She paused and gave her family a slight smile tracing her face, "Good for him," And with that she strolled out of the kitchen and disappeared behind the corner.
The Briefs watched her go wtih their mouths gaped open slightly, each one looking at one another with disbelief.
Bulma let out a huge exhale of air, "Was that our daughter?" She looked down at Vegeta, who nodded his head, but looked mildly surprised.
"Wow...that went a LOT better than I expected," Trunks said with a shocked expression on his face.
"Soooo," Bulma still appeared in shock of her daughter's actions, "Should we go and congratulate the newly engaged?"
"How about we don't and say we did?" Vegeta murmured. Bulma gave him a mildly amused look.
His wife leaned over and gave him a small peck on the cheek, "Would you do this for me, Vegeta? Please?" She gave him another small peck and the Saiyan Prince's face turned crimson. Trunks turned away to keep from laughing out loud.
"What is this? You're not bribing me to do anything!" The Prince roared.
"Oh really?" Bulma said sweetly, "What if I--" Then she whispered something into the Saiyan Prince's ear that Trunks couldn't hear. The Saiyan's eyes lit up and he gave his wife a startled look.
"What--you---what?" He stammered.
Bulma batted her eyelashes, "Would I lie about something like that?"
The prince's face lit up with an evil smirk, "Fine. But you keep your word when we get back," He said as he stood up. "Boy," He glared at his son, "Get your sister. We're going to Kakarot's wife's house." He grabbed Bulma by the waist and led her quickly out the door. Before they disappeared outside, Bulma gave her son a wink.
Trunks sighed and stood up. Do I really want to know what she told him to convince him to go to Goku's? He thought for a second.
No...I don't think I do...
And that's the chapter! It took so long to write..I'm so sorry i kept you guys waiting too:( I hope it wasn't too lame for you! I wanted it to be funnier..but it didn't work out that way...apologies!
Anyway, next chapter, Bra and Uub reunite, and Goten and Marron have some fun planning for their wedding...things steam up, folks! For both couples! bwahahahaha, stay tuned for that!
You guys are the BOMB and so cool, and I want to thank each and every one of you for all the support you've given me! I'll update as soon as I can! Please don't hesitate to comment or drop me a line on how you think the story's going! Oh, LOST is on! Gotta go check it out! Catch ya later! You guys ROCK! I LUV YA ALL!
Peace out and rock ROCK ON!
Romania Black
